Worth the Challenge (Worth It 3)

The look on his face was nothing short of pained. “If you say so,” he answered weakly.

Her smile growing, she started for the water, sensed him falling in right behind her. Despite her sudden worry that she might not be pretty enough or skanky enough, she knew he was affected by her just as much as she was by him. Like the cheesecake incident, the moment in the car, last night, all of it was foreplay. Teasing each other, ratcheting up the heat, the chemistry that had been simmering between them from the moment they met.

She shouldn’t do this. She shouldn’t consider fooling around with Rhett Worth, let alone actually do it. He was a total player. He looked at her and probably saw nothing else but the words “easy conquest” stamped across her forehead. It would be meaningless, what they could end up sharing. It would mess with her head, potentially ruin her career, ruin everything.

Pushing the worrisome thoughts from her mind, she ventured into the water, the gentle waves lapping over her feet, swirling around her ankles as the surf surged in. It was shockingly cold compared to the hot air and she gasped in surprise.

“The Pacific is notoriously colder, even in Hawaii,” Rhett said from behind.

She turned to find he’d slipped his sunglasses back on but shed the T-shirt. Her eyes widened as they took a little trip across Rhett’s broad shoulders, his wide chest sprinkled with dark hair, his abdomen that appeared to be carved from stone. She’d known he was finely muscled just from the way he filled out his clothing—especially a suit—but seeing him like this…

He was absolutely mouthwatering.

“It’s really cold,” she said lamely, unable to come up with anything better.

He came closer, wearing a lopsided, closed-mouth smile. His board shorts rode treacherously low on his lean hips, giving her a view of the flat plane of his stomach below his navel, the narrow trail of dark hair that sloped down beneath the waistband. She jerked her gaze up, caught sight of the tribal tattoo that wound around his right bicep and she parted her lips, her mouth going dry.

There was such a wickedly dangerous air to him. It was enticing, it called to her inner bad girl which just itched to make an appearance.

He looked like a bad boy. She knew for a fact he used to be one, too. Yet he behaved like a proper gentleman. The conflicting combination was beyond arousing.

“Ah, my tattoo.” He realized she noticed it, considering her gaze was still locked on his muscular bicep, and he quickly glanced down with a shake of his head. “It was a mistake from my misspent youth.”

“Uh, lots of people have tattoos,” she said once she untangled her tongue. She shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”

“My brothers hate it, especially Alex. He thinks it makes me look like a hood. I was in my early twenties when I got it and he still lectured me like I was a naughty little kid. Sometimes he acts like an old man.” He stopped just beside her, the water frothing about their knees, sending her swaying, the pull of the ocean’s tide so strong. At least she was slowly growing used to the temperature. Her skin wasn’t so chilled, though she still had goose bumps dotting her arms. “You’re still cold?” He skimmed his fingers down the length of her upper arm.

“I’m fine.” The goose bumps were his fault and there he went, touching her again, giving her a new set. “Didn’t your older brother practically raise you?” She’d read enough articles about the Worths to know of their story. “I’m sure it’s more of a protective, fatherly sort of attitude, you know? Parents have to complain about tattoos and stuff like that.”

“You’re right. He’s pretty protective of me, which I can admit to you I appreciate. Not that I’d ever tell him.” He kicked at the water and it splashed the both of them, his gaze locked on the horizon. “I love the ocean.”

“It’s beautiful here.”

“Wait until the sun goes

down. There’s nothing better than a Maui sunset.” He drew his index finger along the top of her shoulder. “You’re a little sunburned.”

“I know.” She trembled at his touch. “Hence my slathering on the sunscreen, which I should say thank you for your help, by the way.”

“You’re welcome. It certainly wasn’t a hardship.” He remained silent for so long, she finally turned her head to find him contemplating her.

“What?” She both feared and yearned to hear what he had to say.

“I can’t deny I’m attracted to you any longer.” He sounded serious, looked it, too. “So I thought you should know.”

“Oh.” She swallowed hard, unsure how to answer. She turned away from him, kept her gaze trained on the sea instead. “It’s probably not a good idea. Us. Together.”

“You already said something like that. Last night,” he reminded her. “I’m starting to believe it’s an inevitable idea. You and me. Together.”

You and me. Together. As foolish as it was, she liked the sound of that.

A lot.

“But I’m not going to push you. Or push myself on you. If you’re interested, you can let me know. Give me a sign.” He touched her again, a gentle squeeze on her shoulder that made her grimace despite enjoying his hands on her. It was her sunburned skin’s fault.

“O—okay.” He’d given her all the power. Let her know the decision was purely on her and she appreciated that.

Yet it scared her too.